Starting a family is a major step. There is so much preparation that goes into bringing a child into this world, it can make your head spin. The one thing you do not want to let slip the cracks though, is your health.
Among many things I recommend when expecting, like eating plenty of healthy proteins, both meat and vegetable, is taking plenty of vitamins. Vitamins A, B complex, C and minerals are especially important to help you through your gestation period and decrease your baby’s chances of birth defects.
Additionally, taking in folate or folic acids contributes to tissue development during the early stages of your pregnancy and protects the growth of the baby’s spinal cord.
Folate and folic acids work the same way, but folate acids are naturally occurring in food and folic acids are found in supplements. Folate acids in foods are harder for you body to break down and absorb into the body, while folic acids are an easier substitute for the same preventative measures. I always recommend getting natural folate acids through foods, as opposed to synthetic folic acid, which may not completely get absorbed by the body, and later dumped into the bloodstream. Excessive folic acid has been known to stimulate precancerous cells, which is not something we want when we are expecting.
Natural folate acids can be found in a variety of foods like beans, vegetables and most fruits. Supplements may seem like a quick fix, but skipping out on vitamin-rich foods depletes your body of all the natural nutrients it requires for getstation. Stick to 100% whole wheat items and anything else rich in fiber, along with increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, and lean protein. To aid the growth of your baby’s heart, lungs and circulatory system be sure to include foods rich in vitamin A, as I mentioned previously. This fat-soluble vitamin, found in your liver, contributes not only to your baby’s health but yours too!
References:
https://www.thebabbleout.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-food-guide/
http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/prenatal/folic.shtml
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vitamin-b/
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/nutrition/a/908_folate_food.htm
http://www.babycenter.com/0_vitamin-a-in-your-pregnancy-diet_675.bc
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/eating-right-when-pregnant
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-hew-folate-foods11-2009may11,0,4225457.story
